Club Night – February 2012

The Oamaru Information Centre now sells Back Country Hut Tickets. Up to now access to these tickets has been difficult, so there is now no reason to not pay for the huts we use.
A submission on behalf of the Club has been made to the Ribbonwood Station Tenure Review.
The Club website is up and running, but needs improvement. This is being attended to, and will include a trip intentions page, but suggested improvements can be left on the website – North Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club.
The Herbert Forest Promotion day on the 15th April will feature the reopening of the Hoods Creek Track. Some track work and signage and track markers are yet to be put in place.
Ian Sutherland of North Otago Mountain Bikes spoke on co-operating with the Tramping Club to open up tracks in the Herbert Forest to both bikers and trampers.
A track clearing party will go to the upper South Temple track 26th – 28th February. Contact Bill Bews.
Tramping Club Trip reports included 6 members walking up the Kakanui River Gorge, one of the more picturesque spots in North Otago.
There was a biking round trip from Oamaru to Herbert Forest Swallows Track, which was walked, and then biking back via the Wainakarua coastal road. This included riding along the beach between All Day Bay and Campbells Bay. A damp but enjoyable day.
The Temple Basin was enjoyed by one party that did the round trip over Gun Barrel pass, and the other which did the return trip to the South Temple hut.
The Wednesday walkers have been to the Rock and Pillar Range, Clear Stream in Danseys Pass, the North branch of the Wainakarua River via Mt. Stalker, and a walk up towards Mt. Kyburn via the D O C access route on Danseys Pass.
Coming Club trips are a weekend trip to Mt. Summers, a river crossing course, something we all need to practice, and a day trip to Cayenne and Gentle Annie Huts via Mt. Stalker. Look on the website for more information, and to see reports and photos of past trips.
The Club Night Guest Speaker was club member Laszlo Meszeros, who fascinated us with his talk and photos of his 800k walk along the Camina de Santiago Trail in North West Spain, in June last year. The trail is one of several that Christian Pilgrims walk to Santiago de Compostela. This one started in France, although he started in Pamplona where he watched and filmed the “running of the bulls” in all its vivid detail! The walk took 30 days, walking up to 40 k per day with temperatures ranging from 14 to 42 degrees, and heights above sea level from o to 1200meters. The trail can also be ridden by bike or horse. Thousands of pilgrims were walking it because of the pilgrimage, the scenery ranging from low arid hills to lush green forest, and the challenge of walking such a long distance. The 12th century architecture of the stone arch buildings and bridges was well illustrated in his photos. A trail passport, stamped along the way, ensured that he received a certificate of completion in Santiago de Compostela.
The next Club night is on the 12th March, 7-30pm in the St Pauls Church Lounge Coquet St. Oamaru, where we will hear about “Patagonia, 25 to 55 degrees south”.
Wednesday walkers meet outside the Towey St. tennis courts at 8-30am each Wednesday for a day walk. Bring your lunch etc.